Kanam Villagers Cry Out Over Incessant Bandit Attacks, Abandoned Farmlands

Indigenes of several villages in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State have raised the alarm over persistent bandit attacks, which they say have rendered them unable to access or cultivate their farmlands this farming season.

According to affected residents, the unrelenting attacks by armed groups have not only instilled fear but also disrupted their main sources of livelihood—farming and animal rearing.

A resident of Gyangyen village, who spoke to journalists on Tuesday, lamented the growing insecurity in the area, saying the threat of kidnapping and murder has forced many villagers to abandon their farms.

“Bandits are not allowing us to go to the farms,” he said. “If you go to the farm, you will be kidnapped, and we don’t have the capacity to pay ransom. That is why we are avoiding our farms. They even follow us to our homes to kidnap us. If going to your house is not safe, what happens when you go farther into the bush to farm?”

Another resident explained that many villagers had also stopped rearing animals due to rampant cattle rustling. “We can’t go to our farms, and our animals are being rustled. We are completely grounded with no source of income,” he said.

The affected villages listed include Garga, Dadin Kowa, Gada, Keram, Gyanbahu, Dungur, Wanka, Kukawa, and Shuwaka—all of which are reported to be under siege by criminal elements.

The farmers are now appealing to both the state and federal governments to intervene urgently and restore peace to the region. They said access to their farmlands and the ability to carry out basic economic activities are crucial not just for survival, but for ensuring food security in the state.

“We are calling on the government to come to our aid so we can return to our farms and reclaim our lives,” a resident said.

Security agencies are yet to officially respond to the villagers’ concerns, but calls for enhanced military presence and community-based security interventions are mounting across Plateau’s rural communities.